by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

With the NBA season reaching its halfway point this week, it's time to take a look at the midseason awards.

Today, Insider Sam Amick gives his votes for MVP, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The votes for Sixth Man of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Executive of the Year will post later in the week.

MVP

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Ladies and gentleman, we have a race in the MVP category again.

LeBron James has been, well, the King of this domain for quite some time now, with only the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose (2010-11) able to eclipse him in the past five seasons. But make no mistake, Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is leading this race.

These sorts of honors are always about both the narrative and the numbers, and Durant eclipses James on both fronts at the moment. First, the story: Durant is being asked to do it all, as his All-Star wingman, point guard Russell Westbrook had his third right knee surgery since April last month and the void in playmaking, leadership and production is his to fill. Entering Tuesday, the Thunder â?? who are relying on Durant to help guide all their wet-behind-the-ears talents like Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Steven Adams â?? were 8-5 without Westbrook and 31-10 overall.

Now, the statistics: in addition to his league-leading 30.1 points per game (on 49.7% shooting overall, 39.6% from three-point range, 88.1% from the free throw line), Durant is averaging 7.8 rebounds while on pace to set new career highs in assists (5.1 per) and steals (1.6). His part in the Thunder's defense can't be overlooked, either, as Oklahoma City â?? which is one game behind the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference â?? is ranked third in points allowed per 100 possessions (98.5).

As for James, he's been his tremendous self as always: 26.1 points (on an absurd 58.1% shooting overall, 38.3% from three-point range, 75.9% from the free throw line), 6.6 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. On the defensive end, the Heat â?? who have lost four of their past six games â?? seem to have slipped ever so slightly (they're ranked 10th in points allowed per 100 possessions after being ranked seventh last season).

COACH OF THE YEAR

Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers

Yes, everyone knew the Pacers would be elite. And yes, a strong argument can be made that this award should go to the coach of one of the surprise teams (i.e. the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Terry Stotts or the Phoenix Suns and coach Jeff Hornacek).

But consider this much about Vogel: having already survived his baptism-by-fire hiring in 2011 (post Jim O'Brien firing) and thrived in the past two seasons, he lost widely-respected associate head coach Brian Shaw to the Denver Nuggets at a time when there were still improvements to be made.

Yet even without his co-coaching star around to aid with all the development, Vogel has managed to play a major part in the continued evolutions of players like small forward (and MVP candidate) Paul George, center Roy Hibbert and â?? perhaps more than anyone â?? guard Lance Stephenson. They are, without question, a testament to the foundation he had already laid and the fact that he's not done building on it.

This is how you conduct your business when revenge is on the to-do list, and the Pacers â?? whose Game 7, Eastern Conference Finals loss in Miami last season is inspiring this charge â?? are putting themselves in prime position to knock off the two-time defending champions. They are 33-7 overall (much better than their 24-16 mark at this point last season) and are ahead of the Heat by 4 Â½ games in the Eastern Conference.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

It's undeniable that this is an underwhelming rookie class (see Bennett, Anthony), but Carter-Williams has been getting it done on most nights since the start of the season.

Beyond the fact that he leads all rookies in scoring (17.5 points per game; Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz is second at 13.7), assists (6.7 per; Burke second at 5.7), and steals (2.5 per; Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic is second at 1.49), Carter-Williams is proving his value both when he's on and off the floor.

Philadelphia has lost 10 of 11 games in which Carter-Williams was out because of injury, and they're 12-18 with him in the fold.